The nostalgia-inducing KAABOO festival, once a hallmark event in San Diego County, continues its tug-of-war with fate as recent developments suggest the return of the cultural jamboree could be on the horizon for 2025. After a series of ownership debacles and lawsuits, the high-profile music, art, and comedy fest, which went dark post-2019, has ping-ponged back into the conversation. The 22nd District Agricultural Association, which wields the managerial scepter over the Del Mar Fairgrounds, has put ink to a partnership with Festival Licensing and Acquisition Corporation (FLACC) with ambitions to reignite the KAABOO spark.
But, like an elusive musical note that refuses to be penned, the festival's much-anticipated comeback has hit another snag. Originally slated for a September 2024 return, the date has been nudged back to another orbit around the Sun—September 2025, to be precise. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported a statement by Del Mar Fairgrounds that claimed a shorter-than-expected timeline and a medley of external challenges as culprits for the delay. Meanwhile, even as tickets remained absent from box offices and silence draped over potential lineups, the gears behind the scenes churned silently toward a future festivity.
The postponement announcement came wedged between layers of legal kerfuffle, including a lawsuit raised by the city of Solana Beach concerned with public safety and noise management, among other city tranquilizers. However, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune, Del Mar Fairgrounds CEO Carlene Moore said a resolution was carved in mid-April, stirring hopes for the festival's homecoming to be fun, memorable, and exciting.
Over at the fairgrounds, money matters sprouted thorns as well. A sweetened deal involving a base rental payment of $250,000 or a share in net revenues (whichever wore a heftier price tag), along with slices of parking and concession sales, had been perched on the table. With this year's event axed, no compensation cookie has been served to the fairgrounds, as confirmed by Tristan Hallman, the fair's chief communications officer, as per The San Diego Union-Tribune. However, Hallman maintained a buoyant outlook on amending the contract for a 2025 rendezvous.
Meanwhile, at Patch, Moore conveyed her anticipations that FLACC would receive ample time to concoct the best event possible. Hallman echoed this notion in a bid to rekindle the KAABOO name and sweeten the deal for fairgrounds, highlighting shared intentions of setting the stage right for a festival that reflects well on both parties involved.
